What is a private wine tour or day trip service?
A private wine tour or day trip is a chauffeured experience where Olympia Airport Shuttle provides the vehicle, professional chauffeur, and route planning for a full or half-day excursion. Common destinations include Woodinville wine country, Mt. Rainier National Park, Mt. St. Helens, the Olympic Peninsula, and Seattle. Service is booked hourly with a 4-hour minimum, includes pickup and return from your Olympia-area address, and allows full flexibility to customize the itinerary.
How much does a day tour from Olympia cost?
Day tour pricing is based on vehicle type, total hours, and destination distance. Luxury SUVs start at approximately $95 per hour with a 4-hour minimum. Mercedes Sprinter vans for groups of 7–14 start at approximately $135 per hour. A typical 8-hour Woodinville wine tour for 4 people in an SUV is around $850–950 including all driving and waiting time. Custom itineraries are quoted individually.
How does the hourly booking model work?
Hourly booking means you reserve a chauffeur and vehicle for a continuous block of time, typically 4–10 hours for day tours. The clock starts when we pick you up and ends when we drop you off back at your starting location. During the booking, the vehicle stays with you between destinations, the chauffeur waits at each stop, and the itinerary can flex based on how the day actually unfolds.
What destinations can I visit on a day tour from Olympia?
Common destinations include Woodinville wine country (90 minutes north, 120+ wineries and tasting rooms), Mt. Rainier National Park (90 minutes east), Mt. St. Helens (2 hours south), the Olympic Peninsula and Hood Canal (1–2 hours west), Seattle (90 minutes north), Snoqualmie Falls (90 minutes northeast), and South Sound wineries closer to home. We also create custom itineraries combining multiple stops.
What is the minimum booking time for day tours?
Day tours and wine tours have a 4-hour minimum booking. Most full-day Woodinville wine tours run 7–9 hours, Mt. Rainier day trips typically run 8–10 hours, and custom South Sound wine tours run 4–6 hours. Half-day Seattle excursions usually fit within the 4-hour minimum.
What vehicles work best for wine tours?
For wine tours, the most-booked vehicles are the luxury SUV (Cadillac Escalade or Chevy Suburban) for groups of 2–6, and the Mercedes Sprinter van for groups of 7–14. The Sprinter has captain's chairs, generous interior space, and ample cargo room for wine purchases. For special occasions like bachelorette parties or milestone birthdays, the Sprinter is the obvious choice.
Can you accommodate custom itineraries?
Yes. Most of our day tours include some level of customization, and many are fully custom-built. Examples include multi-winery tours combining South Sound and Woodinville stops, a Mt. Rainier visit paired with a lunch stop in Ashford or Eatonville, an Olympic Peninsula loop including Hood Canal viewpoints, or a Seattle day combining museums, Pike Place Market, and waterfront dining. Tell us your interests and we'll suggest stops.
Do you provide service to Mt. Rainier National Park?
Yes. Mt. Rainier is approximately 90 minutes east of Olympia and is one of our most-booked day-trip destinations. We can take you to the Paradise area (the main southwest entrance, open year-round) or the Sunrise area (the northeast entrance, typically open late June through early October depending on snowpack). National park entrance fees ($30 per vehicle) apply separately from our chauffeur service.
What's not included in the price?
The hourly rate covers vehicle, chauffeur, fuel, and waiting time. Not included: park entrance fees (Mt. Rainier $30/vehicle, Olympic National Park $30/vehicle), winery tasting fees ($15–$45 per person at most wineries), meals and beverages, and gratuity for the chauffeur (customary but not required). You pay these directly at each location.
How far in advance should I book?
For weekend tours during peak season (May through October), book 2–4 weeks in advance. For special-occasion tours like bachelorette parties, milestone birthdays, or anniversary trips, book 4–8 weeks ahead to ensure your preferred vehicle and date. Mid-week tours and off-season bookings (November through April) are easier to schedule on shorter notice.
Is there a private winery shuttle service from Olympia to Woodinville?
Yes. Private winery shuttle Olympia to Woodinville is our most-booked wine tour configuration. Pickup at your Olympia, Lacey, or Tumwater address, drive to Woodinville (90 minutes via I-5), visit 3-4 wineries throughout the day with chauffeur waiting at each, lunch built into the itinerary, and return drive in the late afternoon. Typical bookings are 7-9 hours total at the hourly SUV or Sprinter rate. **Every booking is private** — dedicated entirely to your party with no shared rides.
What is the difference between wine tour chauffeur service and a regular shuttle?
Olympia wine tour chauffeur service is a dedicated full-day arrangement — the chauffeur and vehicle stay with you throughout the wine tour, waiting at each winery while you taste, then driving you to the next stop. The chauffeur is your **designated driver for the day**. A regular shuttle is point-to-point transportation that drops you off and ends. For wine tasting, the chauffeur model is essential because you need transportation between multiple stops over many hours with someone who's stayed sober the entire time. Hourly wine tour chauffeur service starts at $85/hour sedan, $95/hour SUV, $135/hour Sprinter